If anything qualifies as Sasuke Uchiha's "reverse scale"—the one thing you must never touch—it's the pain of his clan's massacre and the hatred he bears for his brother, Uchiha Itachi. When provoked by that trauma, Sasuke's fury burned deep, yet his enemy remained hidden. All he could do was waste chakra struggling against illusions, with no tangible target in sight. But when a real threat appeared, it forced him to sharpen his focus—he couldn't afford a moment of carelessness.
"This is bad," Sasuke muttered anxiously, regretting the reckless decision to act alone. In the past, there were stronger comrades like Gaara, Rock Lee, and Hyūga Neji—ninjas known even among peers for their talents. Now, facing an unknown enemy in the Forest of Death, he was left scrambling, caught off guard. I underestimated the Chūnin Exams… There are far too many hidden powerhouses.
"I hope Sakura and Naruto notice something's wrong and come help. Right now, all I can rely on is Sakura's brain and Naruto's insane stamina." It was frustrating for Sasuke—ever proud—to depend on teammates he often dismissed as unreliable. But in this moment, there were no better options.
Meanwhile, a hidden shadow clone of Mizuki observed from the trees, quietly analyzing Sasuke's chakra output and behavior.
The data's almost complete. Sasuke's had a proper wake-up call—he won't go charging in again.
But then Mizuki paused.
"Huh? What now?" he murmured. Two unfamiliar chakra signatures were approaching. "Grass Ninja? Trying to swoop in while I'm busy? Perfect—I won't have to create another distraction."
Elsewhere in the forest, Karin Uzumaki—under cover as a Kusagakure genin—was in serious trouble. Unlike the combat-hardened Konoha ninja, she had no formal shinobi training, relying purely on instinct and her remarkable chakra-sensing ability. Her slight frame gave her no advantage against the Forest's monstrous fauna. With no Sasuke here to play hero, Karin was completely outmatched.
Mizuki, opportunistic as ever, seized the chance to earn her favor—or at least steer her path. He didn't expect instant gratitude, let alone love at first sight—he knew he wasn't that charming. But if she could be convinced not to run into Orochimaru's arms later, it would be enough.
Karin, overwhelmed and bracing for death, shut her eyes—only for Mizuki to appear. With swift precision, he immobilized the beast with a sealing technique, applied a fast-acting anesthetic, and stored the subdued creature in a scroll.
Afterward, he turned to Karin, picked up her fallen glasses, and handed them back.
"Can you stand?"
"...I think so." Karin stumbled to her feet, nervous as she put the glasses on.
"The Earth Scroll? Didn't expect them to entrust that to you," Mizuki noted, scanning her chakra.
"Wait—are we disqualified? Are you here to fail us?" Karin blurted out.
"And what makes you think I'm an examiner and not another genin?" Mizuki asked with mock surprise.
"Your chakra matches the examiner from the written test," Karin said quickly. "You were the one sitting by the door, monitoring everyone. You didn't move the whole time. I noticed… though your chakra feels different now."
"You're sharp." Mizuki blinked. He hadn't realized she had such keen perception. "So why assume I'm here to disqualify you?"
"I just thought—since you've been watching… we'd be judged unqualified." Karin's voice faltered, clearly disappointed in herself.
"No need to worry," Mizuki reassured her. "First, I'm not here to disqualify you. Second, I need you to keep our meeting a secret. What I'm doing here isn't exactly… approved."
Karin nodded. "I understand."
"And third… if you ever leave Kusagakure, or if you feel you've got nowhere to go—come find me." Mizuki handed her a small, unmarked scroll. "I've got plans, and I could use someone with your talent. I won't force you, but keep it in mind. If you ever decide to join me, tear that scroll—it'll signal me."
Karin was stunned. Taken in by Kusa after her mother's death, she'd always been treated like a tool—valued only for her healing and sensing abilities, never for who she was. Mizuki's blunt but sincere offer caught her off guard.
"But… I'm from Kusa. They took care of me, and… can I really help you?"
"You wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that," Mizuki said firmly. "I've done my homework. Just consider it. No pressure."
"...I will. Thank you. And sorry for the trouble."
"Trouble? You're the least of my worries." Mizuki turned to go. "One last thing—the Chūnin Exams this year aren't normal. They're full of outliers, rogue elements, and strong opponents from across the continent. If it gets too dangerous, don't hesitate to use that scroll to withdraw."
"I understand. Thank you, Mizuki-sensei." Karin bowed.
"Not 'sensei.' Just Mizuki." He vanished from sight.
She's not yet the fiery kunoichi she'll become, but the raw potential is there, Mizuki thought. What a gap three years makes.
Elsewhere, Mizuki's clone had Sasuke trapped in a Genjutsu. The illusion masked both sound and sense, but Sasuke, gritting his teeth, sensed something had changed.
"The Genjutsu's weakening… Chakra reserves dropping? Or is something else happening nearby?" He strained to sense more. "Naruto? Sakura? Doesn't feel like Naruto… too quiet. Damn—this barrier's cutting off too much."
The clone had already taken out the two Kusa-nin who had tried to intervene. Just as Mizuki prepared to vanish, he sensed another chakra signature slicing through his Genjutsu.
A kunai whirled through the mist, shattering part of the illusion—Naruto had arrived.
"Sasuke! Took you long enough!" Naruto shouted, blazing in with his usual flair. "Weren't you just getting water? Why are you fighting without me?!"
"Shut up and move—we're not out of danger yet!" Sasuke snapped, grateful for the assist. "How'd you find me?"
"Sakura led the way. Said she picked up the trail."
"Sasuke-kun! Over here!" Sakura's voice called nearby.
"Stick together—we're leaving!" Sasuke barked.
"Leave? But we just got here!" Naruto protested. "They might've had a Heaven Scroll!"
"You idiot! This whole thing was a trap! Fighting now is suicidal—there could be more enemies nearby!" Sasuke grabbed him, dragging him out.
Sakura cleared the path while Mizuki's clone played rear guard. The three safely escaped.
Watching them leave, the real Mizuki sighed.
"Incredible. That girl decoded the barrier technique mid-battle and carved a way out. No wonder she's destined to inherit Tsunade's legacy. The Konoha Twelve… every last one is favored by fate."
Just as he turned to depart, a cold killing intent froze him mid-step.
A shadow stepped out. Pale skin. Snake-like eyes.
"You're not a participant," Orochimaru said, voice a whisper of death. "So tell me—who gave you permission to tamper with my prey?"
Mizuki cursed inwardly. Of all the people to run into… Orochimaru.
"Guess I flew too close to the flame."
"You touched what's mine," Orochimaru hissed. "Now pay the price."